PNS | DEHRADUN
In a major decision aimed at reducing the shortage of specialist doctors in the State’s health services, the Uttarakhand government has raised their retirement age from the existing 60 years to 65 years. The relaxation in retirement age will be applicable only for those specialist doctors who will render their services in the hospitals.
An order regarding this was issued by the health secretary R Rajesh Kumar on Friday. He said that the decision will benefit 550 specialist doctors of the State health services. Kumar said that the decision will help in removing the shortage of specialist doctors and their services will now be available in the health centres located in remote parts of the State.
Kumar added that on the completion of 60 years of age no specialist doctor will be assigned any administrative and financial responsibility and they will be appointed in the hospitals on the vacant posts of their specialization as chief consultants. They will not be given further promotions.
It is worth mentioning here that the State health services are suffering from acute shortage of specialist doctors. There are 1,147 posts of specialist doctors in various disciplines in the health services but out of them 654 posts are vacant. The health department has adopted many measures like holding walk-in interviews and offering high remuneration on the ‘You quote we pay’ scheme but they failed to give desired results.
